CFI acting as PIC with no medical

Can an instructor without a current medical certificate be sole manipulator of the controls in an aircraft in which the student is qualified to be PIC and is acting as PIC? Would the instructor be considered to acting as PIC?

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4 Answers

Wes Beard on May 31, 2013

No. The CFI can be the sole manipulator of controls. There is a difference between logging PIC time (sole manipulator of controls) and acting as pilot in command.

The CFI can log all the time they were an authorized instructor or the sole manipulator as PIC time. The student can only log PIC time they were the sole manipulator.

Since the CFI is not qualified to act as pilot in command, the student must act as pilot in command. This means the student must have a current flight review.

Since the mission is classified as a training flight, both CFI and student are required free members and the student does not need yo be landing current.

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Ben Caldwell on Jun 01, 2013

Thanks for the reply, Wes. You affirmed what I thought was correct. The real question being could I demonstrate maneuvers if I don’t have a medical. Where can I find some supporting documentation?

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Mark Kolber on Jun 01, 2013

The support is in the regs and the many other FAA documents that say an instructor only requires a medical acting as pilot in command or as a required crewmember.

So long as your “student” is capable and qualified to act as PIC, he can allow anyone to takeoff, land, fly, demonstrate maneuvers – a non-pilot, a friend, a child, even you.

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Wes Beard on Jun 03, 2013

In this case, I think a lack of a regulation is affirmation that another person besides the acting pilot in command can touch and fly the airplane.

If the FAA didn’t want Part 91 operators to let their passengers fly, they would have a regulation similar to §135.115 or §121.545.

Go have fun with your pilot friend. Just remember, they have the final authority for the flight even though you are much more experienced.

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